Dying Light, Not Vampire Lite…
- October 14th, 2010
- By stylo
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Look, I don’t mind the occasional filler movie as an escape as Hollywood have us to believe most males want. And I don’t mind either the fluffy half developed ‘chic-flick’ either. I do take exception when for max dollars I get max names, max (but suspect) special effects, in roles that are as about empty as a ghost. This is especially so for a guy who is considers himself a geek, is a sci-fi fan from way back, and does not subscribe to the notion that sci-fi equates with action (e.g. most of the ‘super hero’ based movie titles). In fact, I think of it as affront to my intelligence. I am a man, not a boy; the original comic series or novel had more depth than movies that have more filler than Botox.
Which brings me to the craze of Vamp and related genre series that has been produced of late. Twilight? Bleh. (I seriously become afraid of grown women spewing superlatives over a book and movie series written for teenage girls. Seriously! And people are going as ‘sexy’ Zombies to Halloween parties? So not only are you brainless; but you want to elevate more brainlessness??)
Look, I know many of us have a desire for a ‘simpler time.’ I am no different. However, there is nothing wrong with being pragmatic as well. There is nothing wrong with dreaming of solutions while staring straight into the mouth of the danger of the world that surrounds us. It is simply, life.
That is why I am happy about this book, “Dying Light” by Scott Meek. It seems like it was written for a guy like me or a woman who may be similarly like me. No, I don’t mean like me in the sense of being machismo. I know how much of man I am and I don’t a commercial where a man using a shower gel has falling soap with chain saws and footballs to tell me it is okay to use. I mean like me in the sense of being human.
It seems like it was written for the type of person who had read and enjoyed many of the short stories of Philip K Dick before they became motion pictures with various degrees of success (Minority Report–passable; Total Recall–Aaaarrnold NOT; Paycheck–how could you ruin such a fabulous story; Blade Runner–EXCELLENT, but would never meet most peoples lame and empty ‘blockbuster’ criteria). Meek tackles issues straight on. All the while, there is this really cool futuristic package. Let’s ask the difficult questions, and put it in a realm that is just distant enough that we are not scared off by it and might dream of some of the answers to help our world. And last, but certainly least, this book lets us be inspired by the entertainment in it in grand fashion, giving our braincells a little work out at the same time–think Sketchers Shape Ups–yet, realize that those same shape ups will not replace a seriously designed workout.
Guys there is plenty of action in it. Ladies, there is plenty of sexy intrigue in it. The rest of us, don’t let the previous two facts steer you away from a fully developed story.
Dying Light. Not vampire lite.
-s
